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Microsoft demos Xbox 360-to-iPod connection, notes limits

By Jeremy Horwitz ● Saturday, October 1, 2005

During its first demonstration of “final” Xbox 360 hardware in London, Microsoft showed off its upcoming game console’s ability to interface with an iPod, and explained the link between the two devices. According to German site Heise Online, Xbox 360 can connect to an iPod with a standard Apple cable using any one of three total USB ports, then use the iPod’s MP3- or WAV-format music as a soundtrack for games.

Though an iPod mini was used in the demonstration, other digital music players, USB storage sticks, digital cameras, external hard drives and Sony PSPs can also be connected in the same way. The Xbox 360 can apparently use both music and digital photographs from these devices to create on-screen slideshows, complete with audio accompaniment. However, says Heise, the console cannot store data it has transferred through the USB connections, nor can it play back movies stored on any external device.